Melbourne woman’s shock at Sydney coffee price

A Melbourne woman was left in utter disbelief over how much she got charged for a latte in the new precinct of Barangaroo in Sydney.

When it comes to coffee, Aussies sure know a thing or two.

But how much are you willing to fork out for a good cuppa?

A Melbourne woman was left in disbelief when she was charged $8.90 for a latte in Sydney’s inner-city precinct of Barangaroo.

The woman, who goes by the name of Traci on TikTok, was in the Harbour City for the weekend when she made the purchase at a cafe inside Crown Towers.

“OMG I just got charged $8.90 for a cup of coffee,” she said in a now viral TikTok.

Traci, who is a migration lawyer, said she was charged $1 extra for soy milk, another $1 for upgrading to large, an 80 cent Sunday service fee and another 10 cents for “other”.

The Melbourne was left in shock at the price she was charged for a latte in Sydney. Picture: TikTok/migrationlawyer

She was charged $8.90 for a large soy latte at Crown Towers in Barangaroo. Picture: TikTok/migrationlawyer

She also described the coffee as being “average”.

Traci told 7 News she “didn’t mind too much” about the price but she knew the coffee cost “more than usual”.

Her video has already amassed more than 140,000 views since it was uploaded just two days ago with hundreds of people weighing in on her experience.

“Just another day in Australia,” one person wrote.

“That’s why I have the Aldi coffee machine everywhere I go on holidays,” another added.

She was charged $1 extra for soy milk, $1 to upgrade to a large cup and 80 cents for a Sunday service charge. Picture: TikTok/migrationlawyer

One user asked why she bothered to pay that much, to which Traci responded: “It’s not like the price is displayed anywhere.”

She also said she usually makes her own coffee at home, but considering she was on holiday, she wanted to treat herself.

“Yep I feel this even in Melb,” a fellow Melburnian commented.

“OMG that’s preposterous. What’s going on?” another said.

Others pointed out it’s due to “inflation” and for coffee lovers to expect an increase in price.

“Coffee prices are getting obscene. $7 just to have it over ice the other day,” one woman wrote.

It comes as coffee prices are expected to rise following a sharp increase in freight and shipping costs after Covid-19. Picture: Supplied

And they may be right.

Following a sharp increase in freight and shipping costs due in part to the pandemic, local cafes are expected to hike the price of coffee.

Cafe Owners and Baristas Association of Australia president David Parnham, said the price for an average flat white around the nation could jump to $7 by the end of the year.

“What’s happening globally is there are shortages obviously from catastrophes that are happening in places like Brazil with frosts and certain growing conditions in some of the coffee-growing areas,” he told the ABC.

“The cost of shipping has become just ridiculous.

“It’s nearly five times the container prices of two years ago due to global shortages of containers and ships to be able to take things around the world.”

Mr Parnham said the average $4 price for coffee paid at the moment was long overdue to increase, but businesses had tried to avoid passing additional costs onto the consumer.

“It is overdue and unfortunately it can’t be sustained, and at some point the consumer has to bear that,” he said.

But given Aussies’ obsession with coffee, the rise in costs may not be fully enough to deter them from getting their caffeine fix.

Originally published as Melbourne woman’s shock at Sydney coffee price